In the original story, Kim, the main character, was supposed to be the only survivor of the sanctuary.
After completing the trials, he was to be sent—against his will—from space directly back to his home world, specifically into the castle of the man responsible for the massacre of his entire clan.
But this time, the story has changed.
Because two other children survived the sanctuary. And I'm one of them.
"The other one must be William, however…"
I have no doubt about it, even if I can't see his face.
But why… why is his star emanating such a dark, oppressive energy? The complete opposite of Kim, whose golden light is gentle and soothing.
I don't have time to reflect any further. Already, our paths diverge.
Each of our stars dives toward a different place, as if guided by invisible forces, as we enter the atmosphere of Dounia.
"I wonder where I've been sent…"
Judging by my stats, my luck is 5.1/10.
Theoretically, I should land in a fairly neutral area, without too much immediate danger.
But fate had other plans.
Because just as I landed, the protective banner that had surrounded me throughout the descent suddenly dissipates, as if its role was now complete.
And immediately, everything changes.
"Aghh…"
My body becomes heavy. So heavy that my knees hit the ground before I even realize it.
The air around me is thick, oppressive. I feel like my bones are cracking, my muscles contracting to the point of bursting.
It's as if my entire body is being crushed by an invisible force.
[Warning: your body is exposed to a high mana density]
[Warning: your body is exposed to a high mana density]
[Warning: your…]
System messages scroll before my eyes.
I know very well what it means… but knowing changes nothing. I can't do anything about it.
On the contrary, each alert feeds my panic. Because I know this place.
In my novel, the only zones where mana density reaches this level… are the Abandoned Lands.
A cursed place.
Even elite soldiers, with their training and magical gear, only dare enter for short missions. These lands are hostile, devoured by wild and unpredictable energy.
And now, you're telling me that I, a child not even ten years old, have to survive here?
"This is ridiculous…"
Despair sets in. I want to scream, to hit the ground, to ask why. Why here, of all places? I feel my strength slipping away, pain consuming me from the inside.
But suddenly, amid the darkness, my eyes catch something.
A faint halo, just ahead. A space… different.
There, just a few meters away, an area where the air seems clearer, where the crushing pressure is less intense.
A safe space.
I crawl.
My palms scrape against the rough ground, like crushed glass mixed with ash. The black dust clings to my skin, creeps into my nostrils, almost suffocating me.
My fingers finally brush its edge. The temperature drops sharply. I hold my breath. I stretch my arm a little further…
And then — I cross the invisible boundary.
It's like passing through a membrane. My entire body is pulled forward, and as soon as I enter the zone, the pressure vanishes abruptly.
I collapse.
The air here is lighter, breathable. The mana that was crushing me seconds ago no longer seems to reach me. It's as if this bubble resists the outer violence.
I lie there, motionless, forehead against the ground, panting, my heart pounding wildly.
My muscles finally give in, releasing all the tension built up. Everything hurts, but it's a dull pain — almost comforting now that the immediate threat seems gone.
The calm here contrasts violently with the chaos I came from.
It's silent.
Peaceful.
I slowly raise my head.
Sweat stings my eyes, but I force myself to look around. The space where I found refuge… is tiny.
Barely enough to lie down.
There's only room for me.
One living being.
No more.
I turn my head, check every corner. No extension, no opening to a larger tunnel or cave. It's a cocoon. A soft prison. A survival capsule.
I slowly lean back against the wall, still breathless.
No one will come for me. I know it. Because in a place like this, there's more to lose than gain.
Even the bravest soldiers avoid these lands like the plague. And me, a child with no equipment, no training, no backup…
Then, something catches my eye.
"Over there…"
Several meters ahead, beyond the dense vapors, the threatening ripples of mana-saturated air… A glow.
A shift in the atmosphere. A line, almost invisible, but different.
I squint.
"Is that… the exit?"
Or at least, the perimeter. The border between this hell and the normal world.
My heart leaps.
But that hope is quickly crushed by reality. Just getting here nearly killed me. My mind faltered. My body screamed.
And I know that to get out, I'll have to go through that same hell again.
But there's no other way.
I convinced myself that with enough willpower, I could make it. That it just took a bit of mental strength, a burst of courage…
But the moment my finger crossed the line, I pulled it back instantly — as if burned by a truth too brutal to ignore.
"I should stop trying to imitate Kim."
That thought came on its own, bitter and sharp. Because, let's be honest… who am I in this world?
A lost kid, trapped in a universe I barely had time to imagine. A side character in a play I no longer control. And Kim, he's the hero. The real one. The one around whom everything revolves. The one I created to be strong, brave, worthy of carrying the weight of a story.
But me? Even imitating him, even clinging to his image like a lifeline, I doubt I can hold on.
I even doubt that Kim could last here… indefinitely.
A shiver ran down my spine. I had to think of something else.
So, mechanically, I brought up my profile. A simple mental impulse. A survival gesture, maybe. Or a reminder. Of who I am.
Profile
Name: Luca
Clan: Fari
Age: 8 years
Constellation: Elemental
Stats:
Luck: 5.1/10
Agility: 10
Dexterity: 16
Strength: 11
Mana: 07/???
Active Skills:
• Author: Allows object analysis.
• Inventory: Can store objects in a parallel dimension.
• Passive Skill: None
"Shit!!!"
But as soon as the profile appeared, something suddenly grabbed my foot.
Out of reflex, I jumped, and my shoulder brushed against the invisible boundary that kept me in the safe zone. A slight tingle warned me immediately: You're going too far, idiot!… I stepped back, short of breath, and looked down.
A creature…
Small, hunched, its body deformed, skin a sickly gray. Its clawed fingers clung to my ankle insistently, as if desperately seeking shelter.
Without thinking, I activated my Analyze skill.
[This version of Analyze does not allow creature analysis.]
Just like in the sanctuary.
When I came across that damn goblin and hoped to learn more… for nothing. Nothing at all. Just that ridiculous message.
I clenched my teeth.
"Get off!"
Apparently, it had also figured out this place was safe. The problem is, there's no room for two.
And I didn't plan to die here.
It let out a hoarse whimper, as if begging…
But I wasn't in the mood to listen.
I gathered all my courage — or my fear, I'm not sure — and with a stomp, I crushed its head. A sharp crack echoed beneath my foot. Then, taking advantage of its weakness, I violently pushed it out of the circle.
It vanished into the darkness without a sound.
Since I hadn't yet closed my profile, something immediately caught my eye.
"My mana dropped to 6…"
I frowned. I hadn't used any skills, no magic. Nothing. So why the sudden loss?
"Could it be because I touched the banner?"
It was the only thing I'd done in that short time… And even though the idea bothered me, I had to verify it.
I reached a finger out again, slowly, until I crossed the invisible boundary. Then quickly pulled it back.
Nothing happened. No message, no tingling, nothing.
"Maybe I need to stay longer…"
So, after a brief mental prep, I tried again. This time, I left my finger exposed a bit longer.
Heart pounding, I reopened my profile.
Mana: 5.
"Now that's an interesting piece of info…"
Even if I'm supposed to be the author of this world, I can't know everything.
"What happens if mana drops to zero?"
I immediately thought of the creature from earlier… The one that tried to get into my little paradise. It had literally vanished — reduced to dust before my eyes.
And what if… it too had run out of mana?
The thought chilled me.
Does zero mana mean total erasure?
An obliteration? Death?
In that case… my only way to survive is to gather enough mana.
Enough to cross the limit and reach the other side.
That, at least, isn't a problem. I have ideas for generating mana, or at least, I'll find some.
I close my eyes.
*Inhale
*Exhale.
I focus.
I dig through my memories, into those very concepts I once created, long before I found myself trapped here… back when I was still the author.
Among everything I'd written, there was a passage. A method. Fuzzy, but familiar.
I recite it mentally. Again and again.
And after a while, I feel something…
A stirring. A subtle flow, somewhere inside me. Like a spark ready to ignite.
I cling to that sensation, feed it, amplify it…
Minutes pass. Then tens of them.
My forehead is soaked. My breath short.
But I continue.
And after an hour…
[Mana +1]
I open my eyes, exhausted.
"Well… looks like I'll be here a while."
* * *
While Luca had managed to find a temporary shelter, the Dark Star, on the other hand, had fallen right into the heart of the Cursed Land — where magical density reached its peak.
The boy lay on the ground, unconscious, his body battered from the fifth trial. A dull pain radiated through his limbs, but it was nothing compared to the silence…
A silence so deep, it screamed in his mind.
That's when two figures emerged from the toxic fog, clad in thick suits, opaque helmets, and gear suited for this hostile environment.
"What's a kid doing in a place like this?"
"But you think if we bring it back to the doctor, he'll forgive us for failing to capture the creature?
"Doesn't hurt to try."
Their faces were hidden behind their masks, but a chilling feeling filled the air: one could easily guess the wicked grin behind their muffled voices.
They moved closer.
And the child did not stir.